Originally posted by Hogan's My DadSo much for the Matt Hardy announcement being "below" Vince. Matt better make the most of this, because I can't imagine he'll ever have a better chance.

After that promo, all I could think was "Matt and Edge had better bust their ASSES out there at SummerSlam, because a match like this could make them or break them."

I thought the same thing. This had be one hell of a match after all this build up. That's the danger of doing this kind of real world/shoot style mix. If they don't work stiff as hell to give the impression they are really fighting it's gonna fizzle big time.

Like CENA or not, the footage of him on WWE.com being helped up the ramp after that camera shot is brutal. He either was legit f'd up or can sell like a mofo.

I have a question. Where does this leave Kane now? Makes him look kinda foolish now that they dropped all kaybfabe on the angle. Makes Lita and Edge not being there look silly as well. WWE is going to have to be really careful the way they handle this.

January 4th 1999 - The day WCW injected itself with 10 gallons of Liquid Anthrax...AKA...The day Hogan "Defeated" Nash to win the WCW title in front of 40,000.

Originally posted by dskillzI have a question. Where does this leave Kane now? Makes him look kinda foolish now that they dropped all kaybfabe on the angle. Makes Lita and Edge not being there look silly as well. WWE is going to have to be really careful the way they handle this.

This was what I refered to. If the whole angle relies on dropping the pretense of the Kane/Matt/Lita triangle, then Kane has to lose some story construction as well. If this were to allow the wrestler to drop the tormented-soul act and show some more mundane behavior and attitude -- you know, be normal -- this could be the best benefit of the whole angle. I'd ike to see the guy cut back on the Kane character a bit more then he has already from its original variations (the mask, the voicebox, etc).

And let's not ponder aloud what this shoot/work angle is supposed to reveal about Snitksy's involvment.

Fun fact: Rob Conway's match was easily the worst time for my roommate to bring company over. Because then you have to explain why a guy wearing leather S&M gear is wrestling the guy who claims to be a porn star, and what you're doing watching this show in the living room. After that, the Diva Search segment was little more than a chance to reaffirm my heterosexuality.

Awesome Matt promo. Strange as it may be, Lita's cheating has resulted in his receiving the biggest chance in his singles career. This could make or break him.

And the HBK promo was a lot of fun, but I'm starting to question who the heel is supposed to be here. I'm starting to think that they actually want fans to boo Hogan when he comes out. As it is, will the fans still react the correct way if Hogan uses any of his old "nostalgia act" moves?

Originally posted by Hogan's My DadSo much for the Matt Hardy announcement being "below" Vince. Matt better make the most of this, because I can't imagine he'll ever have a better chance.

After that promo, all I could think was "Matt and Edge had better bust their ASSES out there at SummerSlam, because a match like this could make them or break them."

Me three ... especially since neither Matt nor Edge has been noted for a brutally realistic wrestling style in the past. If Matt decides to express his rage at being screwed by busting out the second-rope rebel yell legdrop, well, it's not gonna work.

As for Kane, his backstory is fucked up enough that it can probably handle broken kayfabe along with everything else.

Ling-Ling into battle goFulfill destiny of the soulSever skull of adversaryShove it in the poo-poo hole

If Matt and Edge don't go with the psuedo-legit stiff style offense, then they at least have to recall their TLC days and bump like freaks. I wouldn't be surprised if they did a two man TLC match for the payoff down the line. While this feud's done wonders for Matt Hardy's career, it's totally derailed Edge's. I think you can kiss any chance of him being WWE champ anytime soon goodbye (so maybe Matt really DOES get some revenge out of this!).

HBK has really turned it up since turning heel. Between last week's promo and this week's skit, he's definitely reminding me why he was once my favorite wrestler on the planet. A couple of more weeks like this and he will be again.

I FFed through most everything else, except the Eugene invitational. Forget the Diva Search girls, though, gimme more of Christy in the cheerleader outfit!

Originally posted by Jim Smith The way the Invitational's been going, they don't need one. Bushwhacker Butch could come to the ring in a Steelers jersey and nobody would bat an eye except Lawler and Coach.

Satan could come out in a Steeler jersey and the Pittsburgh fans would cheer him as a face.

Originally posted by GodEatGodIf Matt and Edge don't go with the psuedo-legit stiff style offense, then they at least have to recall their TLC days and bump like freaks. I wouldn't be surprised if they did a two man TLC match for the payoff down the line. While this feud's done wonders for Matt Hardy's career, it's totally derailed Edge's. I think you can kiss any chance of him being WWE champ anytime soon goodbye (so maybe Matt really DOES get some revenge out of this!).

Derailed Edge? How so?The guy is receiving a tremendous amount of heel heat now. Earlier he was booed in his hometown while being the face. The Mr. Money in the Bank gimmick was going to get stale fast. Add-on Lita and this whole "scandal" and you've got yourself a top heel in the company.

On the other hand, I do agree with everyone else that it has totally derailed Kane. Matt's "Kane & Lita were just a TV thing" remark was really unnecessary. First we're told the guy can actually speak, then he's not actually burned, now this "thing" with Lita he's been doing for the past year was all fake as well. I wouldn't be shocked if next week Lillian announces him as "Glen Jacobs from Knoxville, Tennessee."

What is the big deal about where this leaves Kane? Does it make him look foolish because his "wife" has been dating someone else and then had an affair on HIM? HELL no. They acknowledged this is all a storyline. We all know it's fake. Most of the fans out there do, too. What would make this story even funnier is that during Hardy's "revelation" about Edge and Lite having an affair in real life, if Snitsky had came out and said "THAT was NOT my fault!"

I'm just glad Matt said "Amy Dumas" out loud so I know how her name is pronounced. I didn't know if the "s" was silent, it was "doo-mahs" or "dumass" like the guy in those commercials said it "I'm dumbass material all the way".

I wish the crowd was a little more "up" for Matt's promo. He seemed to lose them in the middle.

They got me with Tatanka. Totally blindsided. Even with Kurt's "Tonto" remark, I was thinking Chief Jay Strongbow or something. I'm starting to really like these out-of-the-blue appearances by former stars.

Shawn was on. He really is better with a sarcastic buddy like Diesel or HHH, but I'll take it. I wonder if will be cheered wildly nest time he appears in Battle Creek, Michigan. (Isn't that RVD's hometown?) Funny how Hogan was so over the hill in the "Huckster" skits of 1996. What does that make him now?

Surprised Rob Schnieder was allowed to say "boner". It was stupid, but made me laugh anyway.

I kinda miss Vince's promos. He just gets this look when he's in front of a crowd that he's loving every second of the attention.

Mohegan Sun is in Connecticut for those who don't know. It's like they go our of their way not to tell people what state they are in.

Originally posted by DestrucityAh, but the Lumbee themselves are somewhat controversial. They're a mix of native, white and black heritage, and while they identify themselves as a Native American tribe, the U.S. government doesn't. I remember when I learned all of this years ago -- I was crushed. How could the WWF and Buffalo mislead me like that?

Hey, that just means he'd fit RIGHT in with the Schatigokes around here...

You wanted the best, you got... Out of Context Quote of the Week.

"...but that doesn't mean he can't relate an amusing anecdote about the Haiti Kid and one of the Frenchman's testicles." (Hogan's My Dad)

Originally posted by PhantomFun fact: Rob Conway's match was easily the worst time for my roommate to bring company over. Because then you have to explain why a guy wearing leather S&M gear is wrestling the guy who claims to be a porn star, and what you're doing watching this show in the living room.

Speaking of that, did you notice Val's look of confusion and mild disgust when Conway entered the ring? What was with that? Isn't he a porn star?

Originally posted by GodEatGodHBK has really turned it up since turning heel. Between last week's promo and this week's skit, he's definitely reminding me why he was once my favorite wrestler on the planet. A couple of more weeks like this and he will be again

Agreed on HBK. One little thing does bug me, though: I know Shawn has found Jesus, it makes him happy, good for him. Does that really mean he doesn't have to swear, EVER? As great as his promos the last few weeks have been, would it kill him to say how he was going to "kick Hogan's ass" rather than sound like a tool and talking about "kicking Hogan's butt?".

I've been listening to my gut since I was fourteen. And I've come to the conclusion that, frankly, my guts have shit for brains.

Originally posted by The Thrill1) Y2J, my hero, why do you hate us cameramen so? First, you push one out of your face a'la Kenny Rogers at the top of the ramp after Bischoff makes the main...then you grab a production cam off one of my colleague's shoulders and bust Cena open w/ it? No, King, that wasn't a piece of Cena's head that went flying...looked to me like an Anton Bauer battery brick. Big, heavy...and provides more power than you'll hardly ever use in 1 shoot. God, I wish I had 'em. *sniff*

Sooo, Jericho grabs the camera (Chris, be sure you use the one with the *green* cable.) & clocks Cena with it. Follow through, plays to the audience. Turns around, sees Cena. Did anybody else see a visible "Shit!" from Jericho, as he goes directly over to Cena for a brief consultation? I didn't think that shot went exactly as planned. ("Who left the freakin' Anton Bauer battery brick in the dummy camera?!?!?!?")

The HBK segment was a beautiful thing. I didn't know that Hogan had had both a hip & knee replacement til Sunday's Hogan Knows Best, & Michaels even tucked that into the parody. Good, good stuff.

I generally watch Heat & I'm confused about what Conway's character is supposed to be. When we first saw the new character on Heat, & he clarified that he'd just been conning everybody about being a Quebecois-sympathizer, I got the drift that he was supposed to be into playing women. I don't have a recording available to cite from, but there was something in this past Sunday's promo along the lines of being ever so studly with the ladies -- I even thought about a Val / Rob feud based on who's the bigger ladies' man. But what is with the hat??? I've said for a long time that Rob has a vastly underrated tushie, & all tanned & ripped, eees verrry niiice. I'm actually just fine with the see-through sides of the trunks, & I could have lived with either the studded wristbands or the earrings. But the hat is the exclusive provenance of guys hanging by the ATMs at the BofA at 18th & Castro.

Kurt just could not contain himself when Eugene first hit the Angle Slam, then feigned the "straps down" move. But the Ankle Lock was just too much. :-) I liked it.

During Shelton's match, I actually was wondering if they were giving him some practice against big lummoxen in preparation for carrying a Lesnar program. Hopefully, if Brockie's really bailed, Shelton can go back to working useful matches.

I'm just glad Matt said "Amy Dumas" out loud so I know how her name is pronounced. I didn't know if the "s" was silent, it was "doo-mahs" or "dumass" like the guy in those commercials said it "I'm dumbass material all the way".

I was thinking the same thing.

Also, did anyone else catch the sign asking "WHERE'S TRIPLE-H?" with "POOCHIE" crossed out in the middle?

I saw that sign, then I saw a sign during Vince's speech that said, "Congratulations RAW on 636 episodes".

Either that was a totally planted sign or some nerd was sitting at home thinking-- "You know I could make a sign about Cena or Angle or Big Show, but you know what? I'm going to praise Raw on not getting cancelled for a really long time"

After the non-showing of Armageddon due to Sky TV not coming to an agreement with the WWE to show it, has there been any news on negotiations to show the Rumble as it is another of the four that are not in Sky's normal deal?